I am going to combine a few posts in one.
The previous week I was able to get two 1 hour twenty minute runs and one 1 hour thirty minute run in. I also ran 45 minutes one day and 30 minutes one day. That gave me a total of 5 days for that week.
From this last Monday to today I have run two 30 minute days, one day for an hour and today I ran one hour and 40 minutes. Today I met Lori (aka taskmaster) at the Garden of the Gods. The day started off with neither of us being able to find the trading post parking lot on the Manitou side. I ended up taking a little driving tour of Manitou and the Garden of the Gods. Anyone who knows me would not be surprised by my detour but I do always find my way to my destination. I didn’t feel as bad when I received a call from Lori that she was lost as well. At least we both made it close to the meeting time that we set. I have realized that the Garden of the Gods is an interesting place to try to do a trail run. I can’t count how many times Lori and I started out on a trail just to end up looping around to the same trail or to get shot out onto the road. I didn’t mind it since I need road training as well. I know that it may be because we don’t know the trail system but it did create some nice hill training. I felt good today even though I was sore and a little slow in sections today. I always feel pushed by the “taskmaster” which is a good thing. We did find an interesting dirt road to explore on a different day. That is if either of us can find it again. When Lori and I got back to the parking lot I continued on for another twenty minutes to get the full 1 hour forty minutes in. That may have been one of the most challenging hills I have ever run. I almost turned back at one point but was determined to finish. It was good to get to the top and it was a screaming down hill. Well screaming for me. One week until Bear Chase and I feel good about it. Not sure on what time I will run it in but know I will enjoy the race. Feel like a mixture between the turtle with pants and maybe an old mountain goat. Matt
